With Bloc Party still on hiatus, I must admit that I've abandoned this blog over the last few months. Although Kele's solo career has been ticking over (he's got three gigs coming up in February) and Gordy's Young Legionnaire project are currently preparing for their album release with Wichita Recordings, there has been a distinct lack of Bloc activity.

As a result, this blog has slipped down my to-do list. So, rather than keep it going half-heartedly, I've decided to freeze BLOG PARTY where it is...I'll no longer be updating it with new articles. However, I'll continue to update the main website, and the Always New Depths forum is still very much alive.

So, thanks so much to everyone who's visited this blog over the past 5 years (it's been that long?!), especially those who contributed with articles, covers, mp3s, photos, gossip, etc...there have been over 1 million blog views in total, and nearly 700 posts. I'll leave up all the old posts, as well as all the downloads (radio sessions / covers / bootlegs), so feel free to keep browsing as usual. There's also a HUGE archive of Bloc Party gig bootlegs / remixes / sessions in 'The Banquet' section on Always New Depths.

I'll leave you with the video that started the love affair. God Bless BP!James

Update(11/05/11): Thanks so much for all the comments :) Although it's nothing to do with Bloc Party, I do have a new blog that some of you may be interested in. It's called The Soft Anonymous and it's mostly about science-y things, plus any random stuff that takes my fancy. I'll still be updating the main BP.net site too, if/when the boys make a return. In the meantime, go and check out the Young Legionnaire album - it's awesome.

Tomorrow sees the release of Young Legionnaire's first 7" single, 'Colossus', backed by 'Iron Dream'...available to order / listen to here via Holy Roar Records. Only 500 copies are being pressed, so don't dilly-dally!

As a reminder, Young Legionnaire is the band formed by Gordy and Paul Mullen (ex Yourcodenameis:milo), joined by William Bowerman (Brontide / La Roux) on drums. Keep up to date with their news on the official YL website.

"‘Colossus’ and ‘Iron Dream’ both came out of last winter’s intermittent writing sessions, the former being knocked into shape on the same day as our first show back in January. Both songs were recorded at Gun Factory, our rehearsal/demoing space of choice in north-east London, by its resident button-basher, Trevor Heaton. Holy Roar Records gave us a chinese burn and insisted they put out our first piece of vinyl: as a result Trevor polished up ‘Colossus’, while Gordy tinkered on ‘Iron Dream’ at home, spending untold half-hours adding ‘oohs’ and ‘ohs’ of twinkly reverb."

Check out the fantastic video for 'Colossus' below:

Young Legionnaire - 'Colossus'

And here's an interview with Gordy and Paul recorded at the Sonisphere festival last month:

The video for Kele's second solo single, 'Everything You Wanted', is now available to watch here, courtesy of The Guardian. It's very emotionally charged, and sees him having a Sinéad O'Connor moment on the streets of New York City...